What is portable
long service leave?
The scheme enables workers to qualify for long service leave based
on their service to the industry rather than service with the same
employer. Workers can therefore work for any number of employers. The
portability will also extend across state borders under the National
Reciprocal Agreement, once approved.

The scheme will be
funded by:

A levy on
construction work in the Northern Territory

Investment
earnings

Most employers will not
have to make any financial contribution to the scheme, as this will be
the obligation of project developers. However, in certain
circumstances where an employee has been continuously employed by the one
employer, employers may have to contribute or pay for long service
leave that accrued before 1 January 2005.

RegistrationIf you are an
employer, you will need to register with NT Build within one month of
commencing to employ eligible construction workers in the Northern
Territory.

You can obtain an
Employer Registration Application Form by contacting NT Build's office on
1300 795 855 or by downloading one published under the publications
menu on this web site.

Post
registration reporting and obligationsOnce a
worker has been registered, employers will be required to:

Keep adequate
records to account for any eligible workers employed;

Complete an
employer return twice a year advising NT Build of the number of
days worked by all registered employees and any other information
required by NT Build.

Note:

Changes made to the Act affecting major construction projects
(valued at more than $1 Billion) means the actual number of days worked
on a major project (ie; Inpex) need to be identified separately from all
‘other’ days.

Employer
Returns are undertaken twice yearly (based on a financial year
cycle).
- Period 1 is from 1 July to 31 December, usually issued mid to late
January with a final lodgement date of 31 March, and
- Period 2 is from 1 Jan to 30 June, usually issued in mid to late
July with a final lodgement date of 30 September.

Further
information regarding reporting completing a return, including how
to calculate a worker's service days, are provided in various
information sheets for employer published under the
publications menu on this web site
.

Who
is an eligible worker?An eligible
worker under the scheme:

is employed to
carry-out construction work in the Northern Territory;

is employed
full-time, part-time, as a casual or as an apprentice;

works in the
private sector, i.e. not for the government;

is not working in
an administrative, clerical, managerial or professional capacity; and

works a minimum
of three days in any reporting period (ie; six months).

What is construction
work?For the
purpose of this scheme, the construction work includes commercial,
domestic, industrial and civil construction work. Construction work covers
workers performing repair, maintenance, extension and demolition work.

What is
qualifying service?The
following is a day of service for the worker:

a workday
throughout which the worker carries out at least 6 hours of construction
work during any work shift;

a public holiday
or any day of paid absence for the worker other than a day that is part of
long service leave while the worker is employed or engaged to carry out
construction work in the Territory.

In
circumstances where workers are employed on a Fly in Fly out /
Rotating roster basis. An average number of days worked over the
Return period should be used to calculate the workers service days.
An average number of working days can be calculated using the
following formula:

Total
number of hours worked in Return period ÷ 8 (standard working
day) = Service days for Return period

A worker is entitled
to be credited with a maximum of 6 days of qualifying service per week,
however they cannot accrue more than 220 days of service in a financial
year.

For more information
on the definition of construction industry and the type of eligible work
please refer to the definition published under the about NT Build
menu on this web site or phone NT Build on 1300 795 855.